Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, FEB 26: Union Minister Jitendra Singh today said Congress was responsible for the situation in Kashmir as the party was at the helm of affairs for 65 years, adding that the Modi-led BJP government was trying to “undo the wrongs done by Congress.”
“If there is anything wrong done with respect to Jammu and Kashmir, it is primarily by Congress and the successive governments led by the party, both at the Centre and the state,” he told reporters.
The MoS was reacting over senior Congress leader P Chidamabaram’s recent remark that “the situation in Kashmir is grim”, and that a series of mistakes were made which were “almost too late” to correct now.
While hitting out at the Congress leader, Singh said he and his colleagues should be grateful that the Narendra Modi government was trying to undo the wrongs that they had done in the state.
“Somebody needs to remind him (Chidambaram) that what he is saying, he is saying about ‘himself and his party’. It was his party which had been at the helm of affairs for the last 65 years,” he said.
“I think Chidambaran and his colleagues should be obliged to the government led by PM Narendra Modi which is trying its best to undo the wrongs done by Congress,” he said.
On being quizzed about the violent protests at Ramjas College in Delhi and the “intolerance” concerns raised by the student bodies of AISA and SFI, the Union Minister said, “This is the most intolerant form of display by a lobby which accuses others of being intolerant. This is a sample of the tolerance being practiced by them.”
“What kind of tolerance do they expect from others? Whatever be the freedom of speech, even the most liberated democracies of the world would not allow any instigation which tends to tear the fabric of the republic and erode the very roots of sovereignty,” he said.
Delhi University’s Ramjas college recently saw clashes between RSS-backed ABVP and Left-affiliated AISA over cancellation of a seminar invite to JNU students Umar Khalid and Shehla Rashid, terming them “anti-nationals”.
Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (Independent Charge) Prime Minister’s office, Personnel Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy & Department of Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched 15 schemes under Phase-X of PMGSY for 15 constituencies of Jammu Province here today.
Minister for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar, Minister of State for Transport and R&B Sunil Kumar Sharma, Legislators Ajaz Ahmad Khan, Dalip Singh Parihar, Shakti Raj Parihar, Dina Nath Bhagat, Jeewan Lal, Neelam Kumar Langeh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ranbir Singh Pathania and Mumtaz Ahmad Khan were present on the occasion.
Pertinently PMGSY Phase-X for Jammu province includes 362 schemes including 26 bridges. Out of these 186 schemes are in Stage-I 120 schemes in Stage-II and 30 schemes are for upgradation of roads.
222 PMGSY schemes in Doda-Udhampur-Kathua Parliamentary constituency includes 1857.80 kms of roads and bridges with 25 sanctioned schemes for Kishtwar, 36 schemes for Doda, 13 for Ramban, 27 for Reasi, 48 for Udhampur and 73 for Kathua
While formally launching first 15 schemes for different constituencies with the click of a button, Dr Singh said better road connectivity shall open vistas of growth and development of the region.
Responding to the demands of other MLAs for fast track clearance by forest departments, maintenance of roads after handing over of the project and upkeep of old roads, Dr Singh asked for formation of works committee for streamlining of projects.
He further said that intradepartmental cohesion can act as constructive medium for implementation of the schemes in proper timelines.
Speaking on the occasion, PWD Minister Naeem Akhtar asked the concerned to stick to quality, timelines and ingenuity for effective completion of the schemes.
He further said that the department is working on connectivity plan for successful utilization of state and central funding in road communication sector. He said road communication is key to socio-economic growth and efforts are being redoubled to ensure effective utilization of funds.
